Method for reducing fire hazard in small boats



Patented Oct. 30, 1951 METHOD FOR REDUCING FIRE HAZARD IN SMALL BOATS Horace J. Price, Silver Spring, Md.

No Drawing. Application October 21, 1949, Serial No. 122,851

2 Claims. 1

' This invention relates to compositions for reducing fire hazards resulting from accumulations of inflammable hydrocarbons in water and more particularly to compositions and methods for rendering accumulations of gasoline and other inflammable hydrocarbons in the bilge water of small boats relatively non-inflammable.

It is standard practice to maintain a quantity of water in the bilges of wooden boats for ballast and also for the purpose of preventing dry rot in the hulls of such boats. Where boats of this type are powered by internal combustion engines, gasoline and the highly inflammable lighter components of other hydrocarbons employed with these engines drain into the bilge water and float on the surface thereof. The bulk of this accumulation, of course, may be traced to leakage in fuel lines, carburetor flooding and spilling during tank filling operations. The vapors from the accumulated hydrocarbons form inflammable and often explosive gaseous mixtures within the hulls of boats which constitutes one of the greatest known hazards in the use of such boats. Thus, electrical discharges from the ignition system, heat from exhaust lines, or the introduction of an open flame in the region where the inflammable gaseous mixtures are confined may produce flash fires or explosions which cause loss of life and destruction of the boat.

It is an object of this invention to reduce the inflammability of gasoline and other light hydrocarbons Which accumulate in the bilge water of a boat and prevent the formation of inflammable or explosive gaseous mixtures in the bilge compartment of boats.

Another object of this invention is to eliminate the immiscible layers of gasoline and other light hydrocarbons which accumulate and float on the surface of the bilge water of a boat and disperse these inflammable materials in a relatively noninflammable state homogeneously throughout the bilge water.

Still another object of this invention is to disperse an accumulation on the surface of bilge water of inflammable materials in a relatively non-inflammable state homogeneously throughout the bilgewater and prevent such inflammable materials from vaporizing to form inflammable or explosive gaseous mixtures in the bilge compartment of a boat.

A further object of this invention is to provide a composition and method for forming an oil- A still further object of this invention is to provide a composition and method for forming an oil-in-water emulsion in bilge water of a relatively non-inflammable, non-volatile hydrocarbon which is a solvent for gasoline and other light hydrocarbons, and for causing the gasoline and other light hydrocarbons which accumulate on the surface of bilge water to become dissolved in the dispersed oil phase of said emulsion whereby the accumulation of inflammable materials is rendered relatively non-inflammable and non-volatile.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description of the invention.

- The foregoing objects are accomplished by the following invention which comprises providing a concentrated emulsion of water and a relatively non-inflammable non-volatile hydrocarbon having a high boiling range and a flash point of over 150 F. which hydrocarbon is a solvent for gasoline and other highly inflammable and volatile light hydrocarbons. The emulsions comprising this invention contain the following inhydrocarbons which accumulate on the surface of V the bilge water of a boat.

gredients in the proportions specified below:

Percent Free fatty acid 20-30 Alkali Metal Caustic, 45 B 1.5-3 Alcohol 0.5 1 Hydrocarbon (flash point over F.) 50-60 Water 5-30 The foregoing proportions are given in percentages by weight.

In preparing the foregoing emulsions, either saturated or unsaturated free fatty acids having from eight to twenty-two carbon atoms may be employed and mixtures thereof as are found in commercially available fats and oils may be used.

Fatty acids; such as, for example, palmitic,

stearic, oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids are typical of those which are satisfactory for the typical of those which are satisfactory for the urpurposes of this invention. It is preferred, however, to employ distilled fats which are substantially odorless. Of these, it is preferred to use distilled soya bean oil fatty acids and distilled tall oil fatty acids or mixtures thereof. The caustic employed in the above compositions may be either caustic soda or caustic potash. The alkali metal caustic reacts with the fatty acid to form an alkali metal soap though an excess of fatty acid may be present. The alcohols employed in the above compositions are the higher monohydric and polyhydric alcohols and serve as a coupling agent or a common solvent for the soap and hydrocarbon components. Among the monohydrlc alcohols which may be employed are the following: n-butyl, isobutyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, secondpylene glyc'tit may also'be used? The'hydrocar.-

bons employedmay be'selected from the kerosene or gas oil range, however, it is essential that the hydrocarbon employed have a high boiling range employ Stoddard solvent, a high boiling minerahrlll v' spirit having a flash point over 105? F. The several ingredients are mixed with watr' ii'i 'the pro portions specified to form a stable concentrated emulsion of the hydrocarbon component and i' water. The soaps, any free fatty acids, and'alcohol function as emulsifying agents arid 'emiil sion stabilizers.

In use; th'e'emulsions comprisin'g thi's-invention are addedftcth'e bilge water of the' boat and mixed-therewith. The emulsion concentrate' is not broken. byithe introduction of I bilge' water into i the" aqueous 'pli'ase'ofthe emulsion b'ut nia'y" be reversed; regardlessiofi-whether the bilge-water isfcomposed' of fresh' Water'pr salt water. The oil phase-of the oil inwater emulsion in thebilge' water comprise's'stoddardsolvent or a-' si 1'ni lar hydrocarbonand thesmall amounts of soap and" alcohol associated therewith, homogeneously" and uniformly dispersed throughout the bilge water? The. dispersion of the oil phase in the bilg'e water is accomplished byfth'e'ordinary rockin'g rriove ment'of a boat that is' afloat; Any gasoline or other" inflammable.- light "hydro'carbon' which mas. collected on the surface of' the' bilge wateror which" subsequently. accumulates" thereon be comes'rapidly' dissolved ixrthe-oil phaseiof the emulsion and this action .is"likewise' accomplished by'tlie above-mentioned movement of the boat.- Theinflammable-'- materials" area therefore, uniformlyi-distributed throughoutthe-bilge water "of the boat-"and: only.minuteouantities sofa gasoline are present on or adjacent the surface of the bilge water at which point the vaporization of such infiaminables occurs. Furth'ermore', -such' minute quantities of gasoline or the lik'elwhich arelpre'sent at the surfaceiofthe bilgelwater are' dissolved in the oil phase of the emulsion] which decreases the tendency of these materials to vaporize and form infiammab1e or explosive gaseous mixtures in the bilge. lt willalso beap parent thatthe great' bulk' of the oilphase 'ofthe emulsion with' the inflammable materiais dis'"-'-' solved therein, is disposed beneath I the surface of the bilge water. Under Such conditions the inflammable materials are surrounded by water which further provides a protective barrier capa ble' of shielding these materials from an open flame The bilge water in aboatniay th'iis' b'e rendered relatively freef'rom-fir'e' hazard by' a'dd ing thereto the emulsion concentrates com" ing this inventi'onih the ratio of about -'six =p-er cent by weight of emulsio'n based on the weight of bilge Water to be treated. This emu1s'i'on is'ca5 name of completely emulsifying three per cent by'weight' of gasoline ba'sed onthe weight ofthe bilgewater present. A'larger-proportion of the I emulsion concentrates 'ma'y 'be"empldyedbuti ittis extremely rare for asmuchor'morethantlire per cent of gasoline; as 'describedito:accumulate in the-bilge compartment-10f a" boats": The emul si'o'n' concentrates 'may be employediin an amount as low as three per cent by;weightbasedaonsthe weight of the bilge water :to" bextreated -but it is preferredito' employthe larger: percentage-meme tinned-e above: Thei amounts of g-asoline;which are emulsified by various amounts of the emulsion concentrates comprising this invention are as follows:

I Pei, cent By Per ceu't By Weight of Weight of Emulsion in Gasoline Water Emulsified AsmalFbbathaviiig a length of forty feet or less which is powered by a single engine may carry fronrtwofito fifty gallons of bilge water but about five gallons is the normal amount employed. Un-' der the vmost. extreme -conditions not..moreithan a pint cfgasoline collectsin the bilge water.

Theadditionuoffrom one to three gallonsot-the emulsions v.comprisiri ,.this invention to the bilge water dpendingupon the amount of the latter present wilt-eliminate the K fire hazard caused-:by the accumulation .ofgasoline or. the like therein;

In the casel ofboats having. alength up to flfty feet which are powered bytdual engines-not more thanone guartlof gasoline collec-tsin the-bilge water. Therefore, approximately. from twotoisix gallons .of l-the concentrated emulsions are added to .the bilge water of such a-boat, depending upon the amount. of water present,..to-overcome.the

fire hazard;

Th-e-invention. is..illustrated.by. thefifollowirig 7 examples Egcample 1 Ai concentrated emulsion was preparedfrom the following ingredients:

Mixtures of gasoline and water containing2'ml. of "gasoline. JandflOO ml. of waterwere prepared.

Three-m1. of the; above: emulsion were added to.

the, gasoline-water mixture and mixed therewith? The atmosphere one-half inch above the surface of the mixture was tested'immediatel y. andiafter. a fourminute period with a A. ModellExplosi'r'n'eter. The readings indicatedthat no ex.-. plosive mixturelwas present. The sameetestwas carried out'employing 6. ml. ofthe emulsion with. a separate portion of a. gasoline-water mixture eontainingB'ml. of gasoline and ml. of water with the result that combustion could-.net-be-im" ducedat thesurfacesof the=mixturesv Thesame results .were: obtained when-the temperature of thegasolinerwater mixturess were maintainedwithin the range.of-from:100-125?-F.

A concentr'atedemulsion waspreparedifi om' the following ingredients: I

r 7 Percent Distilled 'soya' bean 'oil fatty acids 25.:00 Causticsoda45 B 2.50. Isopropylalcohol" 0:75" Stoddard'fsolvent" 55500 Water-p; 16.25"

SixniL ofathe. above emulsion were; added-ato a gasoline-water mixture containing-33ml. ofrgasa V line to 100 ml. of water and mixed therewith. Readings taken with a M. S, A. Model Explosimeter a half inch above the surface of the mixture immediately and after a four minute period indicated no explosive mixture to be present.

Example 3 A concentrated emulsion was prepared from the following ingredients:

Per cent Distilled tall oil fatty acids 30.0 Caustic potash 45 B 3.0 Propylene glycol 1.0 Kerosene (flash point over 105 F.) 60.0 Water 7.5

Six ml. of the above emulsion were added to a gasoline-water mixture containing 3 ml. of gasoline to 100 ml. of water and mixed therewith. Readings taken with a M. S. A. Model Explosimeter a half inch above the surface immediately and after a four minute period indicated no explosive mixture to be present. The same result was obtained when the test mixture was maintained at temperatures between 100-125 F.

Six ml. of the above emulsion were added to a gasoline-water mixture containing 3 ml. of gasoline and 100 ml. of water and mixed therewith. Readings taken with a M. S. A. Model Explosimeter under the conditions set forth in the foregoing examples indicated that no explosive mixture was present.

If desired, a small percentage, 1.0% or less of a corrosion inhibitor; such as, for example, morpholine, benzyl amine or the like may be incorporated in the emulsion concentrates comprising this invention in order to prevent deterioration of metal parts of the boat or the equipment therein which come into contact with the bilge water.

Similarly, anti-foaming agents may be added to the emulsions if desired and necessary.

I claim:

1. The method of reducing the fire hazard in boats resulting from the accumulation of gasoline and other inflammable light hydrocarbons in the bilge water of said boats which comprises the steps of; adding to the bilge water in a boat a concentrated emulsion consisting of from 20 to 30% saturated and unsaturated free fatty acids having from eight to twenty-two carbon atoms, 1.5 to 3.0% alkali metal caustic, 0.5 to 1.0% of a non-inflammable alcohol selected from the group consisting of n-butyl, isobutyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, sec-butyl, tertiary butyl and amyl alcohols and propylene glycol, to of a high boiling hydrocarbon having a flash point above F. selected from the group consisting of Stoddard Solvent and kerosene, and 5 to 30% water; mixing said emulsion with said bilge water to disperse the oil phase of said emulsion homogeneously throughout the bilge water; and dissolving said gasoline and other inflammable light hydrocarbon components of the mixture thereof with said bilge water.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said concentrated emulsion is added in amounts ranging from 3 to 6 per cent by weight based on the weight of bilge water to which said emulsion is added.

HORACE J. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1.052,952 Pease et a1 Feb. 11, 1913 1,374,755 Murphy Apr. 12, 1921 1,860,872 Sunstrom Mar. 31. 1932 2,109,842 Harris Mar. 1, 1938 2,359,503 Alsmark Oct. 3, 1944 2,391,087 Donlan et al Dec. 18, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Ser. No. 53,933, Letters (A. P. 0.), published May 25, 1943. 

1. THE METHOD OF REDUCING THE FIRE HAZARD IN BOATS RESULTING FROM THE ACCUMULATION OF GASOLINE AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIGHT HYDROCARBONS IN THE BILGE WATER OF SAID BOATS WHICH COMPRISES THE STEPS OF; ADDING TO THE BILGE WATER IN A BOAT A CONCENTRATED EMULSION CONSISTING OF FROM 20 TO 30% SATURATED AND UNSATURATED FREE FATTY ACIDS HAVING FROM EIGHT TO TWENTY-TWO CARBON ATOMS, 1.5 TO 3.0% ALKALI METAL CAUSTIC, 0.5 TO 1.0% OF A NON-FLAMMABLE ACHOHOL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF N-BUTYL, ISOBUTYL, N-PROPYL, ISOPROPYL, SEC-BUTYL, TERTIARY BUTYL AND AMYL ALCOHOLS AND PROPYLENE GLYCOL, 50 TO 60% OF A HIGH BOILING HYDROCARBON HAVING A FLASH POINT ABOVE 105* F. SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF STODDARD SOLVENT AND KEROSENE, AND 5 TO 30% WATER; MIXING SAID EMULSION WITH SAID BILGE WATER TO DISPERSE THE OIL PHASE OF SAID EMULSION HOMOGENEOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE BILGE WATER; AND DISSOLVING SAID GASOLINE AND OTHER INFLAMMABLE LIGHT HYDROCARBON COMPONENTS OF THE MIXTURE THEREOF WITH SAID BILGE WATER. 